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The majority of Brits want to purchase vegan cars, suggests a new study.
The Vegan Society recently joined up with research company Attest to ask 750 UK drivers their opinion on vegan cars.
According to the findings, 75 percent want to see car companies remove animal products from their vehicles. Seventy percent were “actively interested” in purchasing a totally vegan car in the future.
Right now, a completely animal-free car does not exist.
Aside from the obvious leather interiors, carmakers often use animal products to build everything from tires to the frame. In the former, animal fat toughens the rubber, and in the latter, it lubricates the steel.
But, in line with public opinion, car manufacturers are making changes.
Cars get more vegan-friendly
According to PETA’s vegan car guide, Honda, Citroën, Dacia, and Ford now offer vegan interiors in a number of models.
In 2020, Bentley revealed its new electric car concept (the EXP 100 GT), which featured interiors made with grape leather.
At the time, the company’s design director Stefan Sielaff acknowledged that people’s attitudes towards animal products were changing.
He told Robb Report: “Maybe you eat everything organic, sustainable, vegan, animal-free – and yet we’re using 15 hides of leather for our cars. This is obviously the extreme, and things change bit by bit, but some people will want a car that better aligns with their belief system.”
More recently, Mercedes-Benz announced that its new electric concept car (the VISION EQXX) features mushroom and cactus leather. It also includes vegan silk in the interior.
The Vegan Society’s senior insight and policy officer Louisianna Waring believes it’s “highly encouraging” that Brits are interested in vegan cars.
She said: “The automotive industry is taking steps in a more ethical direction. But products from animals can still feature throughout the manufacturing process.”
“It’s pleasing to see that 70 percent of consumers are revving up to see fully vegan cars hit the road in the future.”
